Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera

Just two days after his victory over Héctor Camacho in September 1997, it was announced that WBC welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya's next title defense would come just under three months later on December 6 against Wilfredo Rivera, the WBC's number-four ranked welterweight contender.[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/17/sports/plus-in-the-news-boxing-de-la-hoya-to-fight-in-atlantic-city.html De La Hoya to Fight In Atlantic City], N.Y. Times article, 1997-09-17, Retrieved on 2024-10-30

Just weeks before the fight, renowned trainer Emanuel Steward, who had trained De La Hoya for his two previous fights against Camacho and David Kamau was dismissed by De La Hoya's camp after it was deemed that Steward, who was simultaneously training WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, was not spending as much time training De La Hoya for his fight against Rivera. Instead, legendary 75-year old trainer Gil Clancy was brought out of a 20-year retirement and hired as Steward's replacement by De La Hoya.[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/21/sports/plus-in-the-news-boxing-de-la-hoya-adds-clancy-as-trainer.html De La Hoya Adds Clancy as Trainer], N.Y. Times article, 1997-11-21, Retrieved on 2024-10-30 Steward revealed that the reason for his dismissal was a "family situation" as De La Hoya's father Joel, felt that Steward should have had De La Hoya sparring no less than 125 rounds during training, a tactic Steward felt was "crazy" as De La Hoya had already fought four times during the course of the year.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-14-sp-53729-story.html De La Hoya Replaces Steward as Trainer], L.A. Times article, 1997-11-14, Retrieved on 2024-10-30

The featured undercard bout featured reigning WBC super welterweight champion Terry Norris defending his title against Keith Mullings, a journeyman fighter who sported a 1–4–1 record in his last six fights. Norris, a heavy 7–1 favorite, was reportedly set to drop down in weight to face De La Hoya the following year for a reported $4.5 million payday after his expected victory over Mullings and assuming De La Hoya would next defeat his mandatory challenger Patrick Charpentier.[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/03/sports/boxing-de-la-hoya-meets-a-legend-as-he-plans-his-own.html De La Hoya Meets a Legend as He Plans His Own], N.Y. Times article, 1997-12-03, Retrieved on 2024-10-30 However, Norris, after controlling the early portion of his fight against Mullings, was knocked down late in the eighth round and then had the fight stopped in the ninth following a brutal assault from Mullings, costing him the De La Hoya fight.[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/07/sports/boxing-de-la-hoya-remains-unbeaten-after-stopping-rivera-in-the-eighth-round.html De La Hoya Remains Unbeaten After Stopping Rivera in the Eighth Round], N.Y. Times article, 1997-12-07, Retrieved on 2024-10-30

==The Fight==

Though Rivera was a game opponent, De La Hoya controlled nearly the entire fight from the opening round. De La Hoya, having staggered Rivera with a left hook in the second round, followed up with another that opened up a gash over Rivera's right eye, which would hinder him throughout the remainder of the bout. Then in the fourth round, De La Hoya sent Rivera down with a sharp right hand. Rivera was able to answer the referee's 10-count at five, but the gash above his right eye, which his corner had managed to close, was reopened and another cut was opened on his right cheek. Rivera would survive until the eighth round, when the fight was stopped after the ringside doctor concluded that Rivera could not continue due the cuts he had suffered.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-07-sp-61689-story.html De La Hoya Definitely a Cut Above], L.A. Times article, 1997-12-07 Retrieved on 2024-10-30

Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/8069|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}

{{note|Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera|Note 1|For WBC Welterweight title}}
{{note|Terry Norris vs. Keith Mullings|Note 2|For WBC Super Welterweight title}}
{{note|Raúl Márquez vs. Yori Boy Campas|Note 3|For IBF Junior Middleweight title}}

{{reflist}}

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{{s-bef | before=vs. Héctor Camacho}}

{{s-ttl | title=Oscar De La Hoya's bouts |years=6 December 1997}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. Patrick Charpentier}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. Mark Hammon}}

{{s-ttl | title=Wilfredo Rivera's bouts |years=6 December 1997}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. Carlos Palomino}}

{{s-end}}

{{Oscar De La Hoya}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:De La Hoya, Rivera}}

Category:1997 in boxing

Category:1997 in sports in New Jersey

Category:December 1997 sports events in the United States

Category:Boxing matches in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Rivera

Category:Boxing matches refereed by Joe Cortez

Category:Boxing on HBO

Category:Pay-per-view boxing matches

Category:Welterweight championship matches